What did Gov. Tate Reeves say about Jackson’s moratorium on data centers?
The Jackson City Council approved a 183-day moratorium on data centers to allow time to revise the city's zoning ordinances, citing infrastructure concerns. Governor Tate Reeves publicly criticized this decision, arguing it would deter business and cost the city and its schools significant revenue. Councilman Brian Grizzell, who introduced the moratorium, defended it and called for state support for Jackson's efforts to address data center development.
The Jackson City Council in Mississippi has enacted a 183-day moratorium on data center developments, aiming to provide city officials with time to update existing zoning ordinances to better manage such projects. This decision was met with criticism from Governor Tate Reeves, who publicly stated he found the council's action "not very smart."
Governor Reeves linked the moratorium to the city's stated revenue challenges, arguing that rejecting potential businesses like data centers would exacerbate financial issues. He drew a comparison to Madison County, located north of Jackson, where two Amazon Web Services (AWS) data center projects are under construction. An official from the Madison County Economic Development Authority (MCEDA) projected significant property tax revenue from AWS, reaching an additional $6 million by 2026 and $54 million annually by 2032, not including school district funding. Reeves emphasized that Jackson's moratorium would also forgo millions in additional revenue for Jackson Public Schools.
Ward Four Councilman Brian Grizzell, who introduced the moratorium, defended the council's decision. He expressed concerns about the potential strain data centers could place on Jackson's already challenged infrastructure and surrounding communities. Grizzell countered the governor's criticism, calling for state support for Jackson as its leaders work to understand and plan for data center development, rather than offering "unnecessary rhetoric."